superdelegate
Learn about this topic in these articles:
Democratic National Convention
- In Democratic National Convention: History
Advocates hoped that these “superdelegates,” as they were called, would help to prevent disunity and increase the appeal of centrist candidates. In 2016 superdelegates overwhelmingly favoured former first lady Hillary Clinton over independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, while Sanders’s supporters called for abolishing superdelegates. The convention eventually reached a compromise…
Read More
Democratic Party
- In Democratic Party: Policy and structure
So-called “superdelegates,” which include members of the Democratic National Committee (the party’s formal governing body) as well as Democratic governors and members of Congress, also participate. However, following criticism of the superdelegates’ influence in the 2016 nomination process, their power was limited by rule changes in…
Read More
presidency of the United States
- In presidency of the United States of America: Presidential nominating conventions
…created a category of “superdelegates,” who are unpledged to any candidate. Consisting of federal officeholders, governors, and other high-ranking party officials, they usually constitute 15 to 20 percent of the total number of delegates. Other Democratic delegates are required on the first ballot to vote for the candidate whom…
Read More
primary elections
- In primary election
…Democratic Party created so-called “superdelegates,” a group of unelected and unpledged delegates that included members of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic governors, and Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. However, in response to criticism of the influence of superdelegates in the 2016 nominating process, rule…
Read More
United States presidential election of 2016
- In United States Presidential Election of 2016: Democratic primaries
…convention delegates to be “superdelegates” (prominent members of the party, members of the Democratic National Committee [DNC], and major elected officeholders), who were not chosen through the primary and caucus process and who overwhelmingly backed Clinton. Sanders conceded the nomination in early July, largely unifying party support behind Clinton.…
Read More